Four Stampede rodeo athletes competing at CNFR

Four Mesalands Community College athletes, including a regional champion, will compete starting this weekend at the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming.

The rodeo runs from Sunday through June 17. It will be broadcast on ESPN3 or ESPNU.

The obvious favorite from the Stampede team is sophomore Andy Guzman, who finished fourth in bullriding and earned Rookie of the Year honors at CNFR last year.

Guzman also was the Grand Canyon Region champion in that event this year, finishing 86 points ahead of teammate Marco Juarez.

Guzman, who hails from Oakdale, California, has competed in several Professional Bull Riding events.

Another Mesalands athlete who qualified for CNFR was Juarez, a sophomore bullrider from Anthony, New Mexico. Juarez finished second in the Grand Canyon Region.

Jeremy Hennen, a freshman from Minnesota, qualified for CNFR in the bareback bronc riding competition. He was third the Grand Canyon Region.

Another Stampede qualifier is Bryan Huey, a saddle bronc rider from Corona. Stampede coach Matt Hughes said Huey is about “90% healed” from a neck injury he suffered about a month ago. Hughes said Huey has been doing light workouts on a spur board but should be ready for competition this week.

Huey, who is in his third year at Mesalands after being given an extra year of eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic, started his Stampede career as a bull fighter but decided to try saddle bronc riding two years ago. He finished second in the Grand Canyon Region and has won several professional events.

Because of Mesalands’ precarious financial position, Hughes said the college isn’t keeping stock for workouts. Instead, he’s shipping out his athletes to work out with rodeo teams in Missouri, Oklahoma and Colorado.

He noted their entry in professional competitions also should keep those athletes competitively sharp.

“They’re in a good spot,” Hughes said. “There’s not much I can tell them. As long as they’re riding good, I’m not going to mess with them.”

Hughes said because of his past success, Guzman is a contender to take home a national title. But he said Juarez and Huey also are capable of winning it all.